George McGovern talks about his upcoming book during an interview at his daughter's home in Sioux Falls, S.D., Friday, Nov. 18, 2011. / Devin Wagner - Argus Leader/Devin Wagner / Argus L

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Argus Leader

A public middle school in northwestern Sioux Falls set to open in August 2014 has been named for George McGovern, the U.S. senator from South Dakota and presidential candidate who died in October at age 90.

Sandra Henry, an administrator with the Sioux Falls School District, said the school naming committee was unanimous in the selection.

“The overwhelming recommendation from the community at large, the staff at Axtell Park Middle School and the student body at Axtell Park unanimously support the name,” she said.

Axtell Park will be discontinued as a middle school in 2014, instead becoming home to the school district’s behavioral program as Joe Foss School closes. Many of the Axtell Park students will attend the McGovern school instead, which is being built on West Maple Street at North Valley View Road.

The school naming committee cited McGovern’s advocacy against world hunger; he partnered with Bob Dole to establish school lunch programs in poor nations.

“We really heard from a lot of folks and it was overwhelming in support of George McGovern, so I’m thrilled that the school will be named for him,” said Kate Parker, a school board member who served on the committee.

“It’s comforting to know it was a clear choice,” said Doug Morrison, board president.

McGovern, a Democrat, served two terms in the U.S. House and three in the Senate and lost in a landslide to President Richard Nixon in 1972. He was born in Avon and lived in Mitchell for most of his life before moving to Sioux Falls near the end.

McGovern is the third state political figure to get his name on a Sioux Falls middle school, joining Joe Foss and R.F. Pettigrew, who got an elementary school in 2009. Memorial Middle School was named in remembrance of Gov. George Mickelson and seven others who died in a plane crash.